Eruption Lava Could Block River, Wipe out Waterfall

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Eruption Lava Could Block River, Wipe out Waterfall

Scientists believe that the new lava from the Holuhraun eruption could block glacial river Jökulsá á Fjöllum, as it is now approaching an area where the river flows through old lava instead of sand and will no longer be able to retreat.

This would dam the river until it would manage to flow across the new lava, volcanologist Ármann Höskuldsson told RÚV.

In the same area, spring river Svartá, which flows through Drekagil canyon, falls into Jökulsá á Fjöllum and should the lava progress into Svartá, Skínandi waterfall (also known as Drekafoss), could disappear, at least temporarily, ruv.is reports. Click here to view pictures of the waterfall.

According to Iceland Geosurvey (ÍSOR) it is unclear how much lava will reach Svartá but it is considered likely that the confluence at the river will become narrower.

As reported earlier this week, the lava from the eruption in Holuhraun has flowed across the original channel of Jökulsá á Fjöllum but the riverbed had managed to retreat on the sandplain.